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Contemporary Photography

CONTEMPORARY STYLE

Used to refer to a time rather than an aesthetic, Contemporary art generally describes pieces created after 1970 or being made by living artists anywhere in the world. This immediacy means it encompasses art responding to the present moment through diverse subjects, media and themes. Contemporary painting, sculpture, photography, performance, digital art, video and more frequently includes work that is attempting to reshape current ideas about what art can be, from Felix Gonzalez-Torres’s use of candy to memorialize a lover he lost to AIDS-related complications to Jenny Holzer’s ongoing “Truisms,” a Conceptual series that sees provocative messages printed on billboards, T-shirts, benches and other public places that exist outside of formal exhibitions and the conventional “white cube” of galleries.

Contemporary art has been pushing the boundaries of creative expression for years. Its disruption of the traditional concepts of art are often aiming to engage viewers in complex questions about identity, society and culture. In the latter part of the 20th century, contemporary movements included Land art, in which artists like Robert Smithson and Michael Heizer create large-scale, site-specific sculptures, installations and other works in soil and bodies of water; Sound art, with artists such as Christian Marclay and Susan Philipsz centering art on sonic experiences; and New Media art, in which mass media and digital culture inform the work of artists such as Nam June Paik and Rafaël Rozendaal.

The first decades of the 21st century have seen the growth of Contemporary African art, the revival of figurative painting, the emergence of street art and the rise of NFTs, unique digital artworks that are powered by blockchain technology.

Major Contemporary artists practicing now include Ai Weiwei, Cecily Brown, David Hockney, Yayoi Kusama, Jeff Koons, Takashi Murakami and Kara Walker.

Find a collection of Contemporary prints, photography, paintings, sculptures and other art on 1stDibs.

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Item Ships From: USA
Style: Contemporary
Atmospheric Portrait of Led Zeppelin at Chateau Marmont
By Jay Thompson
Located in Austin, TX
Capture of Led Zeppelin sitting on the steps of the Chateau Marmont, captured by celebrity photographer Jay Thompson in 1969. Led Zeppelin was an English rock band formed in London...
Category

1960s Contemporary Photography

Materials

Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Digital, Archival Pigment

Jimmy Stewart, Dale Evans, and Roy Rogers Singing
Located in Austin, TX
Great candid black and white capture featuring Jimmy Stewart, Dale Evans and her husband Roy Rogers, dressed in cowboy gear singing together. met Dale Evans in 1944 when they were...
Category

1950s Contemporary Photography

Materials

Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Digital, Archival Pigment

Arnold Schwarzenegger: Bodybuilding Ballerina
By Michael Norcia
Located in Austin, TX
Retro 1970s photograph depicting a young Arnold Schwarzenegger, the champion bodybuilder who was Mr. Olympia a staggering seven times showing the elegant side of himself as he takes ...
Category

1970s Contemporary Photography

Materials

Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Digital, Archival Pigment

Alice Cooper in Concert
By Mike Gray
Located in Austin, TX
This black and white action shot features singer and musician Alice Cooper performing on stage. Alice Cooper is an American singer, songwriter, and actor whose career spans over fi...
Category

1970s Contemporary Photography

Materials

Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Digital, Archival Pigment

Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus: Candid Golf Legends
By Morgan Fitz
Located in Austin, TX
This black and white action shot features Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus smiling together as Arnold helps Jack with his "winners" jacket. A truly rare capture of two of the greatest...
Category

1960s Contemporary Photography

Materials

Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Digital, Archival Pigment

Ben Hogan: Golf Master Letting it Fly
By Morgan Fitz
Located in Austin, TX
Retro 1960s photograph depicting golf legend Ben Hogan at the Masters. Ben Hogan was an American professional golfer who is generally considered to be one of the greatest players i...
Category

1960s Contemporary Photography

Materials

Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Digital, Archival Pigment

Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver at the 30th Annual Boomtown Party
Located in Austin, TX
Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver attend the Share 30th annual Boomtown party at the Universal Amphitheatre. Arnold Schwarzenegger is an Austrian-American actor, producer, bu...
Category

1980s Contemporary Photography

Materials

Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Digital, Archival Pigment

Elvis Presley Laughing at a Press Conference
By Phil Roach
Located in Austin, TX
Black and white photo of Elvis Presley laughing at a press conference in Las Vegas, his arms raised, on 7/31/69. Elvis Presley, also known simply as Elvis, was an American singer, ...
Category

1960s Contemporary Photography

Materials

Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Digital, Archival Pigment

David Bowie Singing
By Pressens Bild
Located in Austin, TX
Stunning black and white image of David Bowie singing with one arm raised. David Bowie was an English singer-songwriter and actor. He was a leading figure in the music industry and...
Category

1970s Contemporary Photography

Materials

Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Digital, Archival Pigment

Dalai Lama Tenzin Gyatso
Located in Austin, TX
The Dalai Lama is a title given to spiritual leaders of the Tibetan people. They are part of the Gelug or "Yellow Hat" school of Tibetan Buddhism, the newest of the schools of Tibeta...
Category

1960s Contemporary Photography

Materials

Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Digital, Archival Pigment

Reggie Jackson Looking Back
Located in Austin, TX
Retro 1960's portrait of Reggie Jackson in his Angels uniform, candid and looking back over his shoulder while on the field. Reggie Jackson is an American former professional baseb...
Category

1970s Contemporary Photography

Materials

Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Digital, Archival Pigment

George Foreman: Legendary Fighter
Located in Austin, TX
A spectacular 1970s action shot featuring heavyweight champion George Foreman in his prime. George Foreman is an American former professional boxer, entrepreneur, minister and auth...
Category

1970s Contemporary Photography

Materials

Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Digital, Archival Pigment

George Foreman: Legendary Fighter II
Located in Austin, TX
A spectacular 1970s action shot featuring heavyweight champion George Foreman in his prime. George Foreman is an American former professional boxer, entrepreneur, minister and auth...
Category

1970s Contemporary Photography

Materials

Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Digital, Archival Pigment

Vintage Paris Landscape
Located in Austin, TX
This stunning vintage image captured by Steve Fontanini features a wonderful capture of a Parisian landscape. A bustling vintage street scene with candid subjects and stunning lines,...
Category

1950s Contemporary Photography

Materials

Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Digital, Archival Pigment

Jimi Hendrix Performing at the Newport Jazz Festival
Located in Austin, TX
Great candid image of the legendary rock guitarist, Jimi Hendrix performing at the Newport Jazz Festival in 1968. This incredible close up was captured by photographer Ted Kessel. ...
Category

1960s Contemporary Photography

Materials

Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Digital, Archival Pigment

Sinatra in the Studio
Located in Austin, TX
Retro 1960's photo capturing Frank Sinatra on the set. One of the most popular and influential musical artists of the 20th century, Sinatra had a popularity that was later matched on...
Category

1960s Contemporary Photography

Materials

Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Digital, Archival Pigment

Lucille Ball Hugging Desi Arnaz
Located in Austin, TX
This unique capture features Lucille Ball hugging Desi Arnaz in a captivating studio portrait. Lucille Ball was an American actress, comedian, model, entertainment studio executiv...
Category

1950s Contemporary Photography

Materials

Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Digital, Archival Pigment

The Supremes in Sequins
By Walter Looss
Located in Austin, TX
This lovely group portrait features The Supremes posed in sequined gowns. The Supremes were an American female singing group and the premier act of Motown Records during the 1960s...
Category

1950s Contemporary Photography

Materials

Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Digital, Archival Pigment

Marilyn Monroe Smiling in Fur
Located in Austin, TX
This portrait captured by celebrity photographer Frank Worth features actress Marilyn Monroe smiling in a fur shawl and elegant dress. In the early 1950s, Monroe became a popular a...
Category

1950s Contemporary Photography

Materials

Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Digital, Archival Pigment

Natalie Wood: Star of the '60's
Located in Austin, TX
Great color capture of Natalie Wood in her younger years posed smiling on a swing. Natalie Wood was an American actress who began her career in film as a child and successfully tra...
Category

1950s Contemporary Photography

Materials

Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Digital, Archival Pigment

Lucille Ball on Silk
By Ernest Bachrach
Located in Austin, TX
Stunning capture of Lucille Ball lying on silk, looking seductively and elegantly to the camera. Lucille Ball, in full Lucille Desire Ball, radio and motion-picture actress and l...
Category

1940s Contemporary Photography

Materials

Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Digital, Archival Pigment

Elizabeth Taylor on the Set of "Giant"
Located in Austin, TX
Beautifully colorized image of actress Elizabeth Taylor on the set of the 1956 film "Giant". Giant is a 1956 American epic Western drama film, about sprawling epic covering the lif...
Category

1950s Contemporary Photography

Materials

Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Digital, Archival Pigment

Muhammad Ali Training in Florida
By Jeff Joffe
Located in Austin, TX
Stunning color image of Muhammad Ali training in Florida, 1970. Muhammad Ali was an American professional boxer, activist, and philanthropist. Nicknamed 'the Greatest', he is widel...
Category

1970s Contemporary Photography

Materials

Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Digital, Archival Pigment

Audrey Hepburn Glamour Portrait in Tulle
Located in Austin, TX
Great capture of the glamorous Audrey Hepburn posed leaning on a small table, dripping in jewels and beauty. British actress and humanitarian Audrey Hepburn is regarded as one of t...
Category

1960s Contemporary Photography

Materials

Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Digital, Archival Pigment

Elvis Presley Rocking Out on Stage
By Charles Trainor
Located in Austin, TX
A vintage 1957 image, artistically recolored, depicting music's new sensation Elvis Presley performing on stage. Elvis Aaron Presley, also known simply as Elvis, was an American si...
Category

1950s Contemporary Photography

Materials

Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Digital, Archival Pigment

Bianca Jagger's Birthday Party at Studio 54
By Eric Kroll
Located in Austin, TX
Circa 1970's in New York: Mikhail Baryshnikov, Bianca Jagger, and Mick Jagger at Studio 54 for Bianca's birthday party. Bianca Jagger is a former Nicaraguan actress who was married...
Category

1970s Contemporary Photography

Materials

Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Digital, Archival Pigment

Marilyn Monroe, Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall at a Party
Located in Austin, TX
Incredible candid image photographed by Globe Photos Photographer Nate Cutler at the premier of How to Marry a Millionaire in 1953. How to Marry a Millionaire is a 1953 American s...
Category

1950s Contemporary Photography

Materials

Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Digital, Archival Pigment

Elizabeth Taylor and Conrad Hilton on Their Wedding Day
Located in Austin, TX
Candid shot of Elizabeth Taylor and Conrad Hilton in car on their wedding day, 1950. This listing is for a limited edition archival print. What's included: - Limited Edition Archi...
Category

1950s Contemporary Photography

Materials

Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Digital, Archival Pigment

Frank Sinatra Standing with Tbird
Located in Austin, TX
This beautifully restored color image features legendary actor, singer, and musician Frank Sinatra leaning on a classic T-Bird. Francis Albert Sinatra was an American singer, acto...
Category

1950s Contemporary Photography

Materials

Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Digital, Archival Pigment

Elizabeth Taylor with Sunglasses for "Giant"
Located in Austin, TX
This iconic and elegant portrait captured by celebrity photographer Frank Worth features actress Elizabeth Taylor on the set of the film "Giant" for her role as character Leslie Bene...
Category

1950s Contemporary Photography

Materials

Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Digital, Archival Pigment

Marilyn Monroe in Deckchair
Located in Austin, TX
This unique colored portrait features actress Marilyn Monroe sitting with a huge smile in a deckchair. This image was captured by celebrity photographer Frank Worth in Los Angeles, 1...
Category

1950s Contemporary Photography

Materials

Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Digital, Archival Pigment

Billy Wilder and Marilyn Monroe "The Seven Year Itch"
Located in Austin, TX
This beautiful color image features Marilyn Monroe in her starring role for "Seven Year Itch". The Seven Year Itch is a 1955 American romantic comedy film based on a 1952 three-ac...
Category

1950s Contemporary Photography

Materials

Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Digital, Archival Pigment

Ava Gardner at Academy Awards
Located in Austin, TX
Color portrait of Ava Gardner smiling at The Academy Awards in fur and tiara. Ava Lavinia Gardner was an American actress and singer. She was nominated for an Academy Award for Be...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Photography

Materials

Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Digital, Archival Pigment

Marilyn Monroe Smiling in Fur
Located in Austin, TX
This portrait captured by celebrity photographer Frank Worth features actress Marilyn Monroe smiling in a fur shawl and elegant dress. In the early 1950s, Monroe became a popular ...
Category

1950s Contemporary Photography

Materials

Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Digital, Archival Pigment

Marilyn Monroe and Sammy Davis Jr in "How to Marry a Millionaire"
Located in Austin, TX
This beautifully restored color image originally captured by photographer Frank Worth features Marilyn Monroe and Sammy Davis Jr on the set of "How to Marry a Millionaire" in 1953. ...
Category

1950s Contemporary Photography

Materials

Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Digital, Archival Pigment

The Rat Pack
Located in Austin, TX
Rare portrait of the Rat Pack in front of the Sands Hotel sign, 1963. Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Joey Bishop, and Peter Lawford in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Rat Pac...
Category

1960s Contemporary Photography

Materials

Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Black and White

Elizabeth Taylor Behind the Scenes
Located in Austin, TX
This iconic and elegant portrait captured by celebrity photographer Frank Worth features actress Elizabeth Taylor on the set of the film "Giant" for her role as character Leslie Bene...
Category

1950s Contemporary Photography

Materials

Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Digital

Marilyn Monroe with Classic Roadster for "How to Marry a Millionaire"
Located in Austin, TX
Marilyn Monroe posing for a portrait while standing with her car door open on the set of "How to Marry a Millionaire". Beautifully restored and recolored from the original 1953 black...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Photography

Materials

Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Digital, Archival Pigment

James Dean in Restroom
Located in Austin, TX
Hilarious black and white candid shot of actor James Dean talking on the phone while using the restroom. James Dean was an American actor. He is remembered as a cultural icon of te...
Category

1950s Contemporary Photography

Materials

Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Digital, Archival Pigment

Marilyn Monroe Poolside Glamour
Located in Austin, TX
This captivating pinup features actress Marilyn Monroe standing poolside in a bathing suit and heels. Marilyn Monroe was an American actress model and singer. Famous for playing c...
Category

1940s Contemporary Photography

Materials

Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Digital, Archival Pigment

Marilyn Monroe: Hollywood's Glamour Icon
Located in Austin, TX
This beautifully colored image features a pinup of actress and Hollywood bombshell Marilyn Monroe posed in a bathing suit with her leg uppoolside. Marilyn Monroe was one of the mo...
Category

1940s Contemporary Photography

Materials

Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Digital, Archival Pigment

Grace Kelly at the Premiere of Rear Window
Located in Austin, TX
This stunning recolored portrait features actress Grace Kellythe "Princess of Grace"attending Alfred Hitchcock's Rear Window premier in 1954. She is captured here looking at the came...
Category

1950s Contemporary Photography

Materials

Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Digital, Archival Pigment

Playful Jayne Mansfield
Located in Austin, TX
Playful recolored print of Jayne Mansfield smiling with hands and knees on floor. Jayne Mansfield was an American film, theater, and television actress. She was also a singer and n...
Category

1950s Contemporary Photography

Materials

Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Digital, Archival Pigment

Frank Sinatra in Tbird
Located in Austin, TX
In this photograph, Frank Sinatra is captured glancing over his shoulder at his friend, photographer Frank Worth, while sitting in his classic Ford Thunderbird. Frank Sinatra was a...
Category

1950s Contemporary Photography

Materials

Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Digital, Archival Pigment

Frank Sinatra and Lauren Bacall at Villa Capri
Located in Austin, TX
Frank Sinatra and Lauren Bacall smiling while having a meal at a cafe, 1957. Frank Sinatra was an American singer and actor. Nicknamed the "Chairman of the Board" and later called...
Category

1950s Contemporary Photography

Materials

Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Digital, Archival Pigment

Rita Hayworth in Burbank
Located in Austin, TX
Black and white candid image of Rita Hayworth in Burbank, walking along a beautiful street scene. Rita Hayworth was an American actress, dancer, and producer. She achieved fame dur...
Category

1930s Contemporary Photography

Materials

Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Digital, Archival Pigment

Alfred Hitchcock, Grace Kelly, and Oleg Cassini at the Premier of Rear Window
Located in Austin, TX
Alfred Hitchcock, Grace Kelly, and Oleg Cassini at the premiere of "Rear Window" in 1954. Rear Window is a 1954 American mystery thriller film directed by Alfred Hitchcock and writ...
Category

1950s Contemporary Photography

Materials

Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Digital, Archival Pigment

Marilyn Monroe in the Sunshine
Located in Austin, TX
Frank Worth was on the set of "How to Marry a Millionaire" when he took this classic shot of Marilyn Monroe leaning against a new Singer SM 1500C Roadster. A candid capture of Marily...
Category

1950s Contemporary Photography

Materials

Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Digital, Archival Pigment

Elizabeth Taylor with Vintage Camera
Located in Austin, TX
Actress Elizabeth Taylor takes a photo with a Rollieflex twin lens medium format reflex camera wearing a cowboy hat and sunglasses and smoking a cigarette on the set of the movie 'Gi...
Category

1950s Contemporary Photography

Materials

Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Digital, Archival Pigment

James Dean and Ursula Andress at Oscar Dinner
Located in Austin, TX
Great candid capture by celebrity photographer Frank Worth of Hollywood stars Ursula Andress and James Dean at the Oscars dinner. James Dean was an American actor. He is remembere...
Category

1950s Contemporary Photography

Materials

Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Digital, Archival Pigment

Elizabeth Taylor with Lasso
Located in Austin, TX
This stunning colored image features the lovely Elizabeth Taylor spinning a lasso on the set of the 1956 film "Giant". Sprawling epic covering the life of a Texas cattle rancher and ...
Category

1950s Contemporary Photography

Materials

Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Digital, Archival Pigment

Jayne Mansfield at the Roulette Wheel
Located in Austin, TX
Beautifully captured by Frank Worth, this black and white portrait features actress and sex symbol Jayne Mansfield in Las Vegas, watching a game of roulette. Jayne Mansfield was a...
Category

1950s Contemporary Photography

Materials

Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Digital, Archival Pigment

Marlon Brando as Johnny Strabler in "The Wild One"
By Homer van Pelt
Located in Austin, TX
Marlon Brando posed on a bike for the film "The Wild One". The Wild One is a 1953 American film noir crime film directed by Laszlo Benedek and produced by Stanley Kramer. It is mo...
Category

1950s Contemporary Photography

Materials

Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Digital, Archival Pigment

Arnold Schwarzenegger: Ballet Bodybuilder
By Michael Norcia
Located in Austin, TX
Actor and bodybuilder Arnold Schwarzenegger Practicing ballet with a trainer, circa 1976. Arnold Schwarzenegger is an Austrian-American actor, producer, businessman, retired bodyb...
Category

1970s Contemporary Photography

Materials

Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Digital, Archival Pigment

Black Azzedine Alaia Dress
Located in Chicago, IL
Taken at the Galleria Borghese, Rome Archival chromogenic print on Hahnemüle Photo Rag Paper. Edition of 12.
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Photography

Materials

Archival Paper, Archival Ink, Inkjet

Sponge Bob/From the Michael Massaia original portfolio "Transmogrify"
Located in Westwood, NJ
This 14"x11"archival pigment print is offered as a signed and numbered edition of 45. and is part of the Limited Edition book set "Scenes from a Childhood”. The book is signed and nu...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Untitled (Nr. 7584) Photography 36" x 44" Edition of 12 by Ben Cope & Rowan Daly
Located in Culver City, CA
Untitled (Nr. 7584) Photography 36" x 44" Edition of 12 by Ben Cope & Rowan Daly Unframed - ships rolled in a tube Ben Cope + Rowan Daly Off the Grid Off the Grid is the culmina...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Untitled (Nr. 0894) Photography 36" x 44" Edition of 12 by Ben Cope & Rowan Daly
Located in Culver City, CA
Untitled (Nr. 0894) Photography 36" x 44" Edition of 12 by Ben Cope & Rowan Daly Unframed - ships rolled in a tube Ben Cope + Rowan Daly Off the Grid Off the Grid is the culmina...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Contemporary photography for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Contemporary photography available for sale on 1stDibs. Works in this style were very popular during the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artists have continued to produce works inspired by this movement. If you’re looking to add photography created in this style to introduce contrast in an otherwise neutral space in your home, the works available on 1stDibs include elements of blue, purple, orange, red and other colors. Many Pop art paintings were created by popular artists on 1stDibs, including Stefanie Schneider, Tyler Shields, Kirsten Thys van den Audenaerde, and Richard Heeps. Frequently made by artists working with Pigment Print, and Archival Pigment Print and other materials, all of these pieces for sale are unique and have attracted attention over the years. Not every interior allows for large Contemporary photography, so small editions measuring 0.4 inches across are also available.

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